Six Healthy Practices to Keep Your Kid’s Lungs Healthy
Introduction
The adult lungs are different from those of a child in many ways. Children’s lungs develop throughout childhood up to adolescence, so the utmost care is needed healthy during these growing years.
Lungs in children are susceptible to numerous diseases during their developing years, especially in the dry seasons and in the world’s most polluted areas. That is why preventive measures must be taken early on in these cases.
Doctors often recommend various healthy practices that could help you keep your children’s lungs healthy and disease-free. In this article, we will talk about some simple measures that you could take to maintain the health of your children’s lungs.
These measures are highly recommended by a prominent respiratory paediatrician in Manchester and are known to be immensely effective.
What Are Some Common Lung Diseases Faced By Children During Their Formative Years?
Some of the most common lung diseases seen in children are listed below by a notable private paediatric respiratory physician in UK.
1. Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis is one of the most common lung diseases in children, which typically happen during the dry winter months. A virus named the Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV is most commonly regarded as the cause for this disease which causes inflammation and congestion in the lungs and airways.
The symptoms of bronchiolitis are just like those of common colds- sneezing, wheezing, coughing, and difficulty in breathing.
Bronchiolitis is easily treatable and can even be prevented by taking some simple measures as advised by a well-known respiratory paediatrician in Manchester. With some simple home remedies, one can treat bronchiolitis at home within a span of a few weeks.
2. Whooping Cough
Whooping cough is one of the most contagious and dangerous lung diseases often seen in children, so preventive measures must be taken early.
It is generally caused by the bacterium Bordetella Pertussis and can last from a few weeks to even months. The symptoms include a ‘whoop’ like cough, nasal congestion, and difficulty breathing.
There are many remedies recommend by a private paediatric respiratory physician in UK that can help prevent the disease and treat it. Generally, antibiotics are prescribe in such scenarios, and there are also certain vaccines available that help in preventive whooping cough in children.
3. Pneumonia
Pneumonia is prevalent in children and adults and can easily be prevent with simple home remedies. During this disease, the lungs get fill with fluids, which causes coughing with phlegm or pus.
Fever, common cold, and difficulty in breathing are other common symptoms of pneumonia, which various bacteria, viruses and fungi can bring on.
Children can suffer quite a bit due to pneumonia, especially when not treated early on. So, one could follow the health practices advised by a famous private paediatric respiratory physician in UK to keep yourselves and your children safe from such dangerous lung diseases.
Six Healthy Practices To Keep Your Children’s Lungs Safe From Diseases
Here are some of the most well-known and influential practices, often advised by a famous private paediatric respiratory physician in UK, that can help you keep your children free from various lung diseases:
1. Keep Them Away From Cigarette Smoke
Cigarettes are one of the leading causes of lung diseases in adults and children. One should be extra careful with cigarettes around children to keep them safe from passive smoke or eliminate the habit altogether!
Constant exposure to cigarette smoke can cause lung inflammation and nasal irritation and might even lead to more significant diseases in the future. So, you should refrain from smoking cigarettes in front of kids, and even when you’re pregnant, to keep them safe and healthy.
2. Keep Them Safe From Pollution
Pollution can lead to numerous lung diseases, especially if you live in a highly polluted area. Children are prone to these lung diseases more than adults, as their lungs are still in a developing stage. So, it is imperative to keep them safe from air pollution, and specific easy measures can be taken here.
One of the best methods to keep your children protected from air pollution is teaching them to use a face shield or mask when going out on busy roads. COVID-19 has taught us the effectiveness of face masks, and one could use them to keep their children away from air pollution.
As recommended by a respiratory paediatrician in Manchester, you could also opt for HEPA air purifiers in the room to keep the indoor environment free of pollution.
3. Maintain a Healthy Diet
A healthy and balanced diet can work wonders for lung health in children. The lack of proper nutrition can maim their immune system, often leading children to fall ill.
Common colds, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, etc., are cause mainly by various viruses and bacteria. So, if you have a robust immune system, you already are one step ahead of these diseases, and one of the best ways to achieve that is by maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet.
4. Add Vitamin C Into Your Diet
Vitamin C is known to improve your immunity, so it is recommended by a prominent Paediatric respiratory paediatrician in Manchester. You need to add items that are rich in Vitamin C, like citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables like spinach, to their diet to ensure their overall health.
Vitamin C promotes the production of antioxidants in the body. Which combat free radical formation and improve the body’s overall immunity.
5. Keep Your Children Active
Exercising daily can also help keep your children’s lungs healthy and safe from diseases. Your kids do not need vigorous exercise, but simple activities like playing football or running in a clean. And safe environment can work wonders for the lungs.
These activities also come with a set of other benefits, like keeping away heart diseases. And obesity in children, along with keeping their lungs as healthy as possible.
6. Sanitise Your Surroundings
Another helpful habit recommended by every respiratory paediatrician in Manchester is to keep your surroundings as clean as possible. It is a known fact that an unhealthy or dirty environment can create nasal problems like dust allergy. But sometimes you need to do more than just basic cleaning.
Sanitising your home at regular intervals can keep viruses and bacteria away from your household. Washing your hands often with soap and using sanitisers. When you’re outside can keep your kids safe from various lung diseases.
Conclusion
Taking care healthy of your and your kids’ lungs is very important. And these simple habits have proven to be highly effective in this case. So, make sure to follow these simple practices to keep your children free from various lung diseases.